Shotton Memories

POLICE STATION MEMORIES

Bryan Jones from Shrewsbury wrote:

We moved to live in the Police Station, Salisbury Street in Sept 1938. Sandbags were being put up to protect the windows in the event of air raids. My father was then PC 28 John Jones, my mother Primrose and brother John. John and I attended the Council School (head master Mr Jones) until John left to attend Hawarden County School. Sometimes we would collect pieces of shrapnel in the playground the day after an air raid on the Steelworks. Other days watch dog fights high up in the sky. We attended St Ethelwold's Church. The Vicar was the Rev. Evans, and the organist Mr Salter. Mr Salter also delivered milk in a pony and trap. George Sutton had a bake-house in a back alley near Ryland Street, he sold bread in a shop near the station. He was a great cyclist and rode around N. Wales at weekends. Other boys in Salisbury street were Jacky Clemence, Mike Haswell, Hughie Catheral and Roy Jevens. Neighbours were Mrs Norris,and Elsie and Wynne Lloyd (another police man). We spent many happy hours watching films in the Ritz and Alhambra on Saturdays, eg Robin Hood, and Snow White! Those were happy days. We left the street in the January of 1941 - one of the coldest winters of the century.

John Roberts of Bromborough wrote

Salisbury Street Police Station: I never knew him, but I must have followed Bryan Jones in the Police station. I moved to the Police station in Salisbury Street in 1942. My father Robert Roberts (PC36) was promoted sergeant. One of my early memories is of a few WW1 vintage Lee Enfield rifles which were held in the cells for the Home Guard. No ammunition fortunately as I suspect they would have each needed a few hours work by an armourer to get them in a fit state for use! I went to Shotton Council school and particularly remember the top class teacher 'Little Jonah'. It must have been very hard for him with over 50 children in his class and another class of the same size at the opposite end of the main hall! Still, his results were remarkable.

Another memory is of VE day and the street party which followed. My parents had managed to preserve a set of Christmas tree lights, which somebody hung in a V from a rope across the street. Unfortunately, after a few days in the open they were useless, but we all felt it had been worth it We stayed in the Police Station until 1948 when my father was killed on duty. It happened on the railway not far from Ash Grove. My mother and I then moved to a flat above Lodwicks greengrocers and stayed there until she had a house built on Llewellyn Street. She had been an unqualified teacher before she married and went back to teaching. She was allowed to teach for a couple of years before going on a one years course to a college in Wrexham. We made an unusual pair that year, she was off to college and and I went to University.